Every time Athletic and Real Madrid meet it’s a big game. The two clubs have a lot of history with each other and there is a healthy rivalry even today. When the Basques travel to the Santiago Bernabéu on Sunday it will be yet another big match, but this one will have some added importance. Athletic currently sit 7th in the La Liga table and will need a positive result to keep pace in the race for European qualification.

The team continued preparing for Sunday’s clash by training at Lezama on Wednesday and received a bit of good news. Yuri Berchiche, who was forced to leave last weekend’s match with a shoulder injury, returned to normal training. The 29-year-old looked completely fine and is expected to be able to play against Real Madrid. Mikel Balenziaga had been preparing to start in his place.

There was also a bit of bad news as well. Beñat suffered a blow to his right calf and was forced to leave training early. He was seen going back into the locker room with Dr. Angulo while icing his leg. At this point, Beñat is doubtful to be cleared to play on Sunday, but the club will keep the door open in case he is able to recover quickly.

Oscar De Marcos missed training entirely, but it was due to precaution. The right-back was also absent for a session last week with discomfort and manager Gaizka Garitano is being careful with the 30-year-old especially with Ander Capa still nursing an ankle injury. There is no concern right now about De Marcos’s availability for this weekend’s fixture.

Along with Capa and potentially Beñat, Garitano will also be without a few other key players. Dani García could be sidelined for the rest of the season with a muscle injury and Ibai Gómez is still recovering from an ankle injury. The Lions will have limited options when they line up at the Bernabéu, but this team has shown over the past few months that they won’t let anything keep them from playing at a high level.